Scaevola humilis plant named &#39;PFS100&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘PFS100’ is a distinctive variety of  Scaevola humilis , which is characterized by its combination of prostrate growth habit, large leaves, and stability and uniformity of traits through successive cycles of asexual propagation.

The present application claims priority from a provisional U.S. application No. U.S. 61/519,691 filed May 27 2011, which is herein incorporated by reference.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Scaevola humilis.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Scaevola humilis disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘PFS100’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Scaevola humilis, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘PFS100’. Its market class is that of an ornamental plant. ‘PFS100’ is intended for use in landscaping as a groundcover or potted plant.

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘PFS100’ has been lodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was first gazetted in 14 Dec. 2010 under Application No. 2010/229.

-   Parentage: The Scaevola humilis variety ‘PFS100’ was selected in     2010 in an Australian nursery in the state of New South Whales     following a selection process carried out from 2005 to 2010.     ‘PFS100’ is the result of open pollination of Scaevola humilis     (unpatented) whereby a resulting seedling was selected in March 2005     due to its flat growth habit. In June 2005, cuttings were taken from     this selection for further evaluation. From August 2005 to January     2008, three subsequent cutting generations were propagated to     increase the Inventor's trial sample for further evaluation. In     2008, rooted cuttings were transferred to 200 mm pots for further     observation. In 2010, additional cuttings were taken and rooted.     From these plants, rooted cuttings were transferred to 200 mm pots     for evaluation and confirmation of distinctness, uniformity and     stability (DUS). ‘PFS100’ was finally selected in April 2010 due to     its flat growth habit and large leaves. -   Asexual Reproduction: ‘PFS100’ is propagated asexually by division.     The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘PFS100’ variety     are stable from generation to generation; clones of the variety     produced by asexual reproduction maintain the distinguishing     characteristics of the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PFS100’ is a distinctive variety of Scaevola humilis which is characterized by the combination of prostrate growth habit and large leaves.

As a groundcover form of Scaevola, ‘PFS100’ has a flat growth habit with an overall plant height of approximately 3 cm (unpruned), a width of approximately 25 cm (unpruned) and strong shoot density. ‘PFS100’ has a medium to long leaf length (40 to 55 mm) and a medium to broad width (20 to 25 mm).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGURE shows a 1 ‘PFS100’ plant (left) with comparator ‘Mauve Clusters’ (right) showing differences in leaf and flowers characteristics.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of Scaevola humilis known as ‘PFS100’ based upon observations of 10-week old plants grown from rooted cuttings into 200 mm nursery pots in full sun in protected tunnel houses covered with plastic in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia during spring 2010-summer 2010. Plant observations and descriptions were taken in summer 2010.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘PFS100’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 edition.

In southern climates, corresponding approximately to USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11, ‘PFS100’ is an evergreen perennial Scaevola humilis. ‘PFS100’ is a prostrate-growing groundcover plant, with long and broad leaf blades and a dense growth habit.

A botanical description of ‘PFS100’and comparisons with other varieties of Scaevola humilis are provided below.

-   Technical description of the variety.     -   -   Plant characteristics.—Growth habit prostrate, height very             short (average foliar height in a 200 mm pot 3 cm), narrow             width (average width 25 cm) shoot density strong.         -   Stems.—Strong branching habit, branch angles acute. Shape is             cylindrical with a smooth texture, green in color             (approximately RHS 146B).         -   Leaves.—The simple leaves are petiolate with very short             petioles, arrangement is alternate. Shape is ovate, margins             shallow and dentate, apex acute, base cuneate, venation             reticulate. Color of the upper leaf surface is green             corresponding to RHS 137B and lower leaf surface             corresponding to RHS 146B. Leaf texture in all stages is             soft and glabrous to finely pubescence. Upper leaf surface             exhibits strong glossiness and lower surface, medium             glossiness. Mature leaves length medium with an observed             length of 40 to 55 mm (average 46.8 mm) and observed width             of 20 to 26 mm (average 24mm).         -   Flowering.—‘PFS100’ displays a bloom habit similar to the             seed parent: non-fragrant purple fan-shaped flowers with a             very small eye. Flowers are not persistent, lasting             approximately 7 days with 10 to 12 flowers per branch.             ‘PFS100’ flowers in spring, summer and fall.         -   Buds.—Shape is oblong and lanceolate. Approximate length of             12 mm and a width of 3 mm. Green in color (approximately RHS             146B) with underlying hues of purple (approximates to N82B).         -   Perianth.—Zygomorphic, flat and fan-shaped, consisting of             five basally-attached petals arising from the leaf axils.             Observed width across the fan measures 20 to 24 mm (average             width 21.4 mm). Observed length of the petals from point of             attachment measures 10 to 12 mm (average length 10.8).             Predominant color is violet, corresponding to approximately             RHS N87C.         -   Petals.—Five in number; shape is lanceolate; apex is             cuspidate; margin is entire. Texture is smooth and glabrous.             Color of both the upper and lower petal surfaces is violet             (RHS N87C).         -   Sepals.—Consists of one large ovate sepal and two smaller             ligulate sepals with sessile attachment at the base of the             flower. Apices are acute and margins are entire. Texture for             all is lightly pubescent. Color is green, corresponding to             approximately RHS 146B.         -   Cold and heat tolerance.—‘PFS100’ has cold and heat             tolerance typical of Scaevola humilis.         -   Drought tolerance.—‘PFS100’ has good drought tolerance             typical of Scaevola humilis once established.         -   Pest resistance.—No known insect pests. ‘PFS100’ has disease             tolerance typical of Scaevola humilis.         -   Cultural conditions.—‘PFS100’ is tolerant of a wide range of             soil types and pH ranges. -   Comparisons with other scaevola: ‘PFS100’ was identified by the     Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Herbarium as Scaevola humilis. The only     variety of Scaevola humilis known to the Inventor that closely     matches ‘PFS100’ is Scaevola humilis ‘Mauve Clusters’. ‘PFS100’ is     characterized by a flat, prostrate growth habit with an overall     plant height of approximately 3 cm in a 200 mm pot (unpruned) at     approximately 10 weeks of age, whereas ‘Mauve Clusters’ plants of     similar age will reach a height of approximately 5 to 6 cm. At this     age, ‘PFS100’ plants will display a very broad width of     approximately 25 cm (unpruned) as compared with ‘Mauve Clusters’     which has a medium width of approximately 18 to 20 cm. ‘PFS100’ has     a medium to long leaf length measuring 40 to 55 mm (midway between     base of plant and first flowering node), whereas Scaevola humilis     ‘Mauve Clusters’ has a short leaf length of approximately 20 to     25 mm. At an average width of 24 mm, the leaves of ‘PFS100’ are     considered medium to broad for the species, whereas the leaves of     Scaevola humilis ‘Mauve Clusters’ are considered narrow, measuring     approximately 10 to 15 mm. The shallow, dentate leaf margins of     ‘PFS100’ contrast to the medium to deeply sinuate leaf margins of     ‘Mauve Clusters’. The lower leaf surface of ‘PFS100’ is slightly     darker green (RHS 146B) when compared to ‘Mauve Clusters’ (RHS     144A). The lower leaf surface of ‘PFS100’ has medium glossiness     whereas the lower leaf surface of ‘Mauve Clusters’ has slight     glossiness. The flowers of ‘PFS100’ display a deeper violet color in     comparison with those of ‘Mauve Clusters’ primarily due to the fact     that the lower petal surfaces of ‘PFS100’ are more deeply purpled     (RHS N87C) compared to those of ‘Mauve Clusters’ which correspond to     RHS 85B. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Scaevola humilis plant named ‘PFS100’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 